Using your bathtub is a real pleasure when you need to relax, but it can get almost disgusting when blocked drains leave soap-laden water lathering at the base of the bathtub. Blocked drains can occur for multiple reasons –– from soap scum and debris to hair. If your drain is blocked because too much hair has gone through the drainpipe, then follow these step-by-step guidelines to unblock a hair clog in your bathtub drain.

Plunge The Drain 

Before plunging the drain of the bathtub, fill it up with a little water. This will give the plunger better grip along the base of the bathtub as you place it over the drain hole. Close the overflow opening of the bathtub with a wet rag. This is typically located along the side of the bathtub and works to ensure that the level of water in the bathtub doesn't exceed it. The wet rag insertion ensures that the plunger force is concentrated only on the drain and the hair clog. Now that you're prepared, begin the plunging action as rigorously as possible.

Insert A Drain Snake Into The Drainpipe

The plunging action should ideally loosen the hair from your blocked drains and bring the clog closer to the surface. To unblock the clog completely, you can use a drain snake to remove the hair from the drainpipe. This drain snake is a slender and flexible cable device used to navigate through tricky drain areas for removing any debris and clogs. Carefully insert the drain snake cable into the drainpipe and continue pushing it through until you meet some resistance. This is likely the hair clog. Once you have a firm hold on the hair clog, slowly pull it out of the drain through the drain opening.

Pour Baking Soda And Boiling Water Down The Drain

Hair clogs can leave smelly residue in drains because of the amount of debris they hold on to. Baking soda acts as a natural disinfectant and deodoriser, so pour some baking soda down the drain and let it sit for several minutes. This action will deodorise your previously blocked drains to remove any foul odours coming from them. Once you're done, pour boiling hot water down the drain to remove the baking soda from the surfaces of your drainpipes.

The hair clog in your blocked drains should ideally be removed with these step-by-step guidelines. If you're unable to tackle a hair clog on your own because it is deeply embedded within drainpipes, then you should ideally hire a professional plumber for the job.